Grades should factor in student aid, Tories say

PC Leader Tim Hudak and Tory MPP Rob Leone release a policy white paper on post-secondary education during a media conference at Queen's Park on Tuesday, February 11, 2013. The paper suggests that student financial aid be linked to grades, and that more high school students be encouraged to pursue college educations. (Antonella Artuso/Toronto Sun)

Tory MPP Rob Leone said the paper proposes ending the Ontario Liberal government’s income-based 30% tuition break with a “No Qualified Student Left Behind” policy that focuses financial aid on how likely the program is to lead to employment and on student performance.

Students who do well in school but who cannot afford tuition would be supported, Leone said.

“Rewarding good behaviour means not only making the smart and efficient choice about where to go to school, but also keeping students accountable for how they choose to spend the money the government is lending them,” the report says. “To maintain aid, students must demonstrate a minimum level of academic success. Too often, our loans and grants programs reward mediocrity.”

Leone did not specify a grade average that would need to be maintained in order for student grants and loans to keep flowing.

“Unfettered enrolment growth is eroding quality in our universities as class sizes and reliance on part-time instructors have increased to meet internal budget needs,” the report says. “The government must stop mandating growth across the board. Enrolment growth should be tied to meeting or exceeding high retention benchmarks and stronger unemployment outcomes.”

Ontario Tories have released a series of discussion papers that have recommended a broad number of changes — everything from booze in the corner store to individualized back-to-work plans for social assistant recipients to allowing workers to opt out of unions.

The white paper calls for a rethink of the research-teaching formula for professors, encouraging universities to embrace teaching-only instructors as well as rewarding those who excel in research.

The Tories would also consider allowing students to opt out of student union fees which are directed at political advocacy.

“Student unions as well as administrations should be held accountable for their expenditures and better explain them to students,” the report says.

Training, Colleges and Universities Minister Brad Duguid said he will review the white paper’s recommendations.

But when it comes to ending the 30% tuition break, “that’s a non-starter,” Duguid said, arguing such a move would take money out of the pockets of middle- and lower-income students.

NDP MPP Gilles Bisson said he could not support linking student aid directly to grades.

“I remind people — there are all kinds of successful people in our society that did not do well in college or university,” Bisson said. “(Albert) Einstein didn’t pass math when he first went to university.”

Poll

Should a college or university student who gets lousy grades qualify for government financial aid?